How does the government justify subminimum wage? It argues that disabled workers may be less productive than nondisabled workers, and that employers should be able to pay them on a percentage basis; if a disabled employee can only do half the work of a nondisabled worker, she should be paid half as much. The 14(c) exemption, as it’s called, is sometimes defended on the grounds that it also promotes employment for disabled people by making it easier for employers to make hires.

What it actually enables is exploitation, with workers earning far less than minimum wage while employers profit. Disability rights organizations have been fighting the subminimum wage (waiters are also subject to special exemptions under labor law, as are certain classes of computer programmers) for decades, on the grounds that it’s dehumanising, exploitative, and offensive. It effectively argues that disabled people should be discriminated against in the workplace and on payday, and reflects an older, outdated, charity-based model of disability services and approaches to disability in society.

Secretary of Labor Tom Perez appears to be rethinking his stance on the issue, along with the rest of the Obama Administration, perhaps after much pressure from disability rights groups. Previously, the Administration claimed its hands were tied and that an act of Congress would be required to eliminate the 14(c) exemption, but the Labor Department is reassessing its legal options. It may find that it’s possible to ensure that all federal contractors are required to pay the same minimum wage to all employees, regardless of disability status, which is just as it should be.

If disability groups are successful in winning this key victory, it could be a starting point for taking down the 14(c) exemption once and for all by putting pressure on Congress to rethink the FLSA. It’s time for everyone — waiters, disabled people, coders, and all — to be guaranteed the same minimum wage from sea to shining sea.

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When the economy tanked and employees were being layed off everywhere, and companies incomes went down etc, very few CEO's took a cut in their income, yet we begrudge handicapped people the same pay as other workers just because they are handicapped.

Thank you Mother E for another side to the debate. It stands to reason if the wages are the same and the production is not (even for the best of reasons), someone will have to make up the difference, and you are right, it matters more to the disabled that they are respected and feel useful than what we think of as a kindness that will keep them from being employed at all.

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You see, for many people who are disabled and can't be gainfully employed, they still need to have purpose in their lives and feel some self worth. They can't support themselves and are really not able to live on their own. They do need to work and employers aren't willing to pay them a minimum hourly wage when they can't perform the tasks required, and that is fair. If a minimum hourly wage was passed that ignores the special exemption (which is being considered) , these people would have no work to go to. Sometime a 'fix' causes worse problems especially when the person creating the 'fix' doesn't have a wide view or full grasp of the entire situation.

God save us from people who mean well.
― Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy